One more step away from a real truck

[special-K]

http:////www.off-road.com/blog/wp-co...-Tailgate-.jpg

What on Earth would the point be, other than to be first with no other consideration, of a split tailgate? It's not an SUV...or is it one with an open cargo area? It certainly takes away a very important feature of a truck. A good strong tailgate to extend the deck of your bed another 2' for...um, hauling cargo? Is this for wimps who can't handle lifting a "whole" tailgate? I assume it hinges down and not swing like a barn doors. I have a better idea. How about make a tailgate that slides up under the bed you open it? I mean if cool features are now more important than function, why not? I wonder if the production version will actually line up with itself.

Sorry for being negative. But I'm a died in wool truck guy and I hate seeing them being designed for marketing over designed for uses as a truck. Spit tailgate is a bad idea IMO. Hopefully just an option

[Stocker]

I studied that thing for a few minutes or so. I'm aware that I am not the most imaginative guy around, far from it in fact. But I cannot for the life of me figure out the reason behind that split tailgate. A solution to a problem that doesn't exist? The answer to a question that no one has asked? A marketing gimmick perhaps, but to what end?

Tim, I don't think it's for wimps.... don't they already have power tailgates? If not... maybe it's time!

[kingsolver72]

Perhaps it's like alkaseltzer... make up a remedy first and then fabricate a reason for the remedy and call it the blahs...upset stomach or whatever. Nothing but fizzy water.

[special-K]

I see a marketing gimmick to wow those who now drive trucks because everybody else is and buys whatever you run by them, without first thinking it through. Thanks to them, trucks are marketed to hush puppy wearin' pencil pushers more than a working man. Man-steps, wi-fi, power tailgates, and on and on. What I want to know is when will they start putting hand sanitizer dispensers at the door so you don't get germs inside the truck.

[RedRider]

It must be for little dogs to jump into the bed. This is probably for people who carry their Pomeranian in a purse.

[Palf70Step]

[Grumpy old man]

Anyone remember the Lincoln Blackwood , I've never seen one at a jobsite doing anything work related .

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...failure-256033

[67ChevyRedneck]

Best I can figure is that trucks have gotten so high you can't reach over the bed anymore. I guess they're trying to make it more like an SUV where you can just pop open a corner and grab small stuff out?

I could reach over the bedsides on my 2000 Z71 that I owned forever. Check and add oil, no problem. Get in? hop right in.

My 2015 Z71 is so massive and high I can no longer check or change the oil without a step. Reaching into the bed from the sides will never happen without a ladder. I really do like the corner step bumper they added, I use it often (If I had to guess, the "step" is actually about where the top of a 99-06 bumper was). I also had to add step bars just to get in and out. I had so slide over the seats without it and didn't want to ruin the seats prematurely.

So again, I think it's to compensate for how massive trucks have gotten.

Like you all, strength would be a big concern for me. That had better be one massive latch system. The first time they get sued for it splitting and breaking someones legs from the load falling on them may put an end to it

[95 S_Trucker]

I've picked up some heavy things with some friends, and we'd throw stuff up on the tailgate, and then we'd move it read quick so it didnt snap the cables. For real heavy stuff I would take the gate off completly.

Thats the only positive I can see from this.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Instead of removing it or putting the heavy load on it, just move it out of the way... that's a good way to look at it, and the cables bother me as well.

I've never seen tailgate cables snap, but I've seen other cables snap before, and they don't really give a warning...

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Instead of removing it or putting the heavy load on it, just move it out of the way... that's a good way to look at it, and the cables bother me as well.

I've never seen tailgate cables snap, but I've seen other cables snap before, and they don't really give a warning...

I loaded a roll of hay into my 95 Z-71 and when I flipped it down to get it out of the bed it took out BOTH tailgate cables at the same time . They weigh about 1000 lbs . Didn't do any damage just snapped them .

[special-K]

I've never had a problem lowering a whole tailgate just to put something small in. To a person who belongs driving a truck (ok, not fair. Anyone has the right) lowering a tailgate is about as minor of an effort, compared to other things they do, as you can get.

Even if there is some good reason I fail to see, I can call out plenty more negatives to go against that. Look at it this way, for 100 years no one saw the need to change what a tailgate is...a one piece gate that opens for access. But now that consumerists have discovered trucks the marketing people are catering to them. The whole basis for this design is taking sales away from Ford and GM with something they don't have for the fickle buyers to leap on, not improve the function of a truck.

[Grumpy old man]

I destroyed more K20's , beds and tailgates than I can remember in the 70's plowing snow and hauling firewood off a wood lot . It was no big deal to add a few more dents and scratches to my trucks daily ,We had them for work not as a fashion statement .Try loading a full spit cord of red oak in today's trucks .

[harpo231]

It appears to me that this truck was made for offroad not hauling so I'm thinkin a ladder on the small side ...

[special-K]

I don't see any more of an off road capable truck than a RAV4. These are Dodges from back when they were built for off road

[drivea55]

hand sanitizer dispensers... HAAHAAAA this comment got me good.

now onto the tailgate, it looks like the left side with the handle will drop like a tailgate and the right side with open like a door. hmmm

[harpo231]

I was goin by the tailgate

[special-K]

Originally Posted by drivea55

hand sanitizer dispensers... HAAHAAAA this comment got me good.

now onto the tailgate, it looks like the left side with the handle will drop like a tailgate and the right side with open like a door. hmmm

Would you like a flower vase, too? That could be the deal. But looks like you'd have to open the tailgate prt to open the door part. Seems like extra effort more than convenient. Either way, you get a weak & worthless tailgate

Originally Posted by harpo231

I was goin by the tailgate

I figured Just sayin' it may be 4wd but off road? Not yet anyway. Maybe after several thousand in aftermarket. I guess it was an article on that website

[flashed]

I just cant get excited about any new truck on the market ,no matter the brand , just too expensive and too plush .

[CJM72]

If I had to guess, that tailgate design probably fold down or splits in the middle to swing horizontally like a normal door. The Ridgeline tailgate does the same thing...just as a 1 piece. The full size tailgate is probably too big to swing left or right as a single panel. It would help too reach things deep in the bed since you have to be 6'6" to reach in from the side. Think SUV style split back door. Just a thought.

[special-K]

You could be right. I considered that. But that only supports my title "One more step away from a real truck". A vehicle designed more for convenience and comfort than work to the point it hinders it's function is not a truck in my mind. You can work out of a doggone station wagon. I mean, a pickup truck has a tailgate...needs a tailgate. Especially with what seems to be more shortbeds than longbeds these days (have to sacrifice 25% (or more) cargo space to accommodate space taken by the sedan cab). That 2' tailgate could drop so you could haul a 12' board (or kayak) without teetering out. Heck, a dbl cab Tacoma is hard to find with the "fullsize" 6' bed. Most are running around with 5' beds that put the bulk of the load out behind the rear wheels. That is bad truck ju-ju. My '95 SUV is more truck than that thing. I often set up the miter box on the tailgate.

[special-K]

I just wish they'd come out with a two piece hood that you can open a small part to check fluids. It's so ridiculous to have to lift that whole thing. Heck, back in the beginning they were way ahead with hoods you opened one side or the other. But trucks had one piece tailgates

[harpo231]

A vehicle designed more for convenience and comfort than work to the point it hinders it's function is not a truck in my mind.

scary place !! hehe

[flashed]

Stan ,you aint right but you aint wrong either ,you fit in so well here .

[harpo231]

woot !